Selling a junk Honda Passport, old or new

The two eras have one thing in common: a recall for rear suspension parts rusting in salt-belt states.

The two Passports, side by side

Counts were drawn from NHTSA's data on October 10, 2026. No Passport was sold for 2003 through 2018, so nothing is on file for those years.

1994-2002: the Isuzu years

Structure tops the 2001's complaints, 63 of 134, while hydraulic brakes and suspension lead the 1998 and 1999. Those are NHTSA's part labels, and they don't give a cause. The rust shows up in a recall.

Recall 10V436 covers 1998-2002 Passports sold or registered in a list of northern states and DC. Its wording: "excessive corrosion" can leave a rear suspension lower link bracket "detached from the frame", which can upset handling and cause a crash. Isuzu ran it with the Rodeo and Axiom, 149,992 vehicles in all. An earlier campaign, 00V058, found that uneven paint on 1998-1999 rear axles could let a lower link bolt nut work loose.

Two other early recalls matter if one of these won't run:

• 1994, recall 94V132: the cylinder head's constant expansion and contraction could work a camshaft end plug loose, leaking oil onto the hot exhaust, with engine damage or a fire possible. Dealers fitted retainer plates.
• 1998, recall 98V170: a badly crimped ground terminal in the engine harness could crack. The computer then reads a false high speed and cuts the fuel, so the engine won't start. Dealers replaced the harness.

If an inspection station has already failed the frame, our failed inspection guide covers what comes next.

2019 onward: the Honda years

The 2019 has the most complaints of any Passport, 279, led by the electrical system at 70.

Rear subframe rust, 2019-2023. Recall 26V365 reaches Passports sold in Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The recall report says the subframe "may corrode at the suspension mounting points". A dealer checks the subframe and reinforces it. Honda's first letters to owners went in the mail on July 27, 2026; a second round follows once the final remedy is available, which the report expects this fall.

Subframe bolts, 2026. On 3,933 new Pilots and Passports, rear subframe bolts may not have been tightened properly and can loosen (26V424).

Screens and camera. A faulty connector can keep the rearview camera image off the screen on 2019-2023 Passports (23V431). On 2019-2020 cars, instrument panel software could blank the speedometer, oil pressure and gear display until the next restart (20V439). Honda also covered MOST network connectors on 2019-2020 Passports for 5 years or 60,000 miles, for crackling speakers, lost audio and display errors. Five years from purchase has now passed on nearly all of them.

Idle stop. On 2019-2022 Passports whose engine won't restart after idle stop, Honda covers valve adjustment and starter replacement "to 10 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limitation." Its bulletin says the system was allowed to stop the engine while the battery was weak. Selecting Park and pressing Start usually brings it back. Every 2019-2022 Passport is still inside that 10-year window.

Other recalls: the hood latch striker on 2019 cars (21V932); a brake booster fastener on 2021-2023 cars that can let the master cylinder separate (23V458); a steering gearbox joint on 245 Passports and Ridgelines from 2023 (24V184); a fuel filler neck that can leak on 2023-2024 (24V900); side mirror glass that can drop off on 2020-2022 (23V174); and the fuel pump impeller recall 23V-858 on 2019-2020, where a deformed pump can stop the engine.

Forward collision avoidance drew 27 complaints on the 2020 and 30 on the 2021. We found no recall or extension tied to them.

Complaints and recalls by model year

As of October 10, 2026. Recalls repeat in every year they cover, so their column totals more than 29. "Leading system" sets aside NHTSA's unknown-or-other label.

Fix it or let it go?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall search first, and ask a Honda dealer about warranty extensions, which that search leaves out.

• Rusted rear end on a 2019-2023 from the listed states: get the 26V365 inspection and ask what the dealer found.
• Won't restart after stopping at a light on a 2019-2022: the idle stop coverage applies.
• A 1998 that cranks and never fires: check whether the harness recall was ever done.

Past those, compare a written estimate with the price of a running Passport of the same year. When the quote comes near it, selling as is wins. Our non-running car guide covers that choice.

How selling it works

• Ask for an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
• Give the year, the mileage and what's wrong, and say whether it's the old Isuzu-built truck or a 2019 or newer.
• Say where the SUV is sitting: a driveway, a side street or a body shop's lot. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
• Leave it complete, and mention anything already removed.
• The title goes to the driver at pickup, along with a look at your ID. After you sell explains plates and insurance in your state.

Comparing other Hondas? See the Pilot, Ridgeline and CR-V.